Recreational
Team Organization
The Basic Coach's Kit (Provided
by the Quest)
Desirable Extras (collect gradually)
Review Sign-Up Forms
Review the sign-up forms in your packet for the
following information:
-
Make sure you have a registration
form for each player on your roster. If you are missing a form,
contact the Quest office at 770-926-4175. These forms should be in
your possession at every team function because they include the
Medical Release information and emergency telephone numbers. Check
the registration forms for completeness, accuracy, and parent or
guardian signatures. If you become aware of any player address
changes, please call the Quest office.
-
No player is allowed to practice
or play a game without registering with the Quest. Coaches could be
held liable for any injuries to unregistered players.
Establish Your Team Volunteers
It is extremely helpful to hold a
team meeting ASAP. At this meeting you are able to commit volunteers
and outline your expectations. Get several parents involved with team management.
Your team should have the
following personnel before the first practice:
-
Coach
- Assistant Coach
- Team Manager - assists coach
with telephone calls, arranges for refreshments
Where there are no volunteers
noted for a particular position or duty, be sure your remaining
parents are contacted to find someone to fill all volunteer
requirements. If no parents come forward, plan on recruiting them at
the team meeting. Tell parents the importance of each role. Remind
them you are a volunteer and each parent is expected to also
volunteer some of their time for the success of the team. If that
doesn't work, use alternative measures of guilt.
Volunteer Responsibilities
Head Coach
The coach organizes the team,
conducts practices, and manages the team at
			games, assumes overall responsibility for the
team and its volunteers, ensures the safety and well-being of
players. He/she is also responsible for the conduct of those
associated with the team (i.e. parents, players, spectators). See
United Quest Standards of Conduct
Assistant Coach
It is mandatory to have an
assistant coach and to notify the Club of who that is. The Assistant
Coach helps the coach conduct practice and game functions, and fills
in for the coach when he/she cannot be present for a team activity or function.
U6 Teams: Because 2 games are
played simultaneously, the Assistant Coach oversees the second game.
Team Manager
The Team Manager usually handles
coordination of team activities and team support such as arranging
for the refreshments at half time and game's end, collects any money
required for refreshments, team pictures, coach's gift, etc.,
organizes team party and car pools, and assists the coach in relaying
information to team members by phone regarding schedule changes,
practice or game cancellations, etc.
Team
Meeting
Perhaps the most important aspect of preparing for the season is the
team meeting. The team meeting plays an important part in having a
successful and rewarding season for the coach, players, and parents.
The team meeting should be called well in advance of the first
practice. It is an opportunity to communicate efficiently and
accomplish many activities at once including:
At the meeting, make it clear that YOU'RE NOT A BABY-SITTER! You
deserve and should expect respect, attentive behavior, and discipline
from your team. The following agenda will be helpful as a basis for
your first team meeting.
Remember to keep your meeting brief (½ to 1 hour long). Don't
use it prove yourself as a coach. You'll have done that after a
successful season when the players are anxious to return to your team
and soccer the next season! The team meeting should be used to inform
and organize. A good meeting will give you a great start to your season.
Team Meeting Agenda
-
Introductions
- Volunteer Responsibilities
- Practice Times and Locations; Prompt Player Pickup After Practice
- Attendance Expectations. (If a player is unable to attend a
practice or game, he/she must notify the coach. Some coaches will not
allow player to start a game if he has not explained an absence from practice.)
- Distribution of Roster and Phone Numbers
- Uniform Information
- Review of United Quest Standards of Conduct for Players, Parents,
and Spectators
- Team Goals/Tournament Plans
- Questions & Answers
Practice And Preparation
(see also Player Development article)
Be organized; set goals for each
practice. Have a set of specific activities for skills/tactics you
want to introduce or improve. Be prepared to demonstrate each skill
or enlist the assistance of an older player to help demonstrate the
skills you want to work on. Attend as many coaching clinics as possible.
Keep practices lively, active, and
interesting. Depending on the age of your players, vary the
activities so that they don't tire of doing the same thing
repeatedly. Younger players have a short attention span. It is better
not to get through your entire lesson plan than to have most of the
kids standing around saying, "What's next, Coach?"
Incorporate "Games" into
each practice to help keep the interest level up. All
"Games" and drills should involve footwork skills with the
ball. Remember, players did not sign up for soccer to watch others
work with the ball. Use the last third of your practice to "PLAY
SOCCER" (scrimmage).
Encourage every player to own
their own soccer ball and bring it to each practice. (U5-U8 = size 3,
U9-U12 = size 4, U13 & Older = size 5)
Learn the GAME! Attend coach and
referee clinics. They are usually free. Buy at least one basic soccer
book that you find easy to understand. The Quest can offer you
suggestions. Watch older teams and advanced teams play. Many of the
United Quest Top Select Teams are the best in Georgia, the Southern
Region, and the nation! Encourage your players to attend their games.
Watch international matches on TV. Remember, the more you understand,
the more you can offer your players.
Do not leave a child unattended at
the practice field. All players must have been picked up before you
depart the field. (See Risk Management section)
Game Day Preparation
Check your equipment before
leaving for the field. Home team supplies the game ball (U10 and
older teams). Each Smidget, U6, and U8 team supplies one game ball.
Smidget, U6, and U8 Teams remember
that each team supplies one parent referee for each half of play.
Request players report to the
field 15-30 minutes early for warming up.
If you are the first game of the
day, walk your field and ensure that it is safe from holes, glass,
aluminum cans and other items that might be of danger to players.
Call the Quest office after the game if field conditions need to be
addressed before next week.
Use shortened versions of drills
from your practices of the week to remind players of the new skills
or tactics to be used in the game.
Shortly before the start of the
game, hold a team conference to reinforce special details or points
of play. Announce the starting lineup.
Be sure team captains are ready to
meet with the referee when he/she calls for them. Allow them to
report what the referee told them. You may want to use this as a
reward for excellent play or behavior.
Develop a team cheer that you use
before taking the field at each game to get everyone excited about
the coming action of the game.
After play has started, be
enthusiastic and positive in your coaching. Make sure parents'
comments are positive and supportive (See Quest Standards of
Conduct). Positive feedback is much more effective than criticism
toward your players. Players learn much more quickly if you praise
achievements on the field. If you do need to give instructions to a
player, substitute and make comments in a positive manner.
MAKE SURE ALL PLAYERS PLAY AT
LEAST 50% OF EVERY GAME. Failure to comply with this rule may result
in disciplinary action. Players should rotate and learn all positions.
U6 and U8 teams: Make sure teams
are balanced in strength unless both coaches agree to play a strong
vs. strong players and weak vs. weak players.
At half-time, regardless of the
score, be positive, encouraging, and offer ways to deal with specific
situations. Use this time to check players for fatigue and/or injury.
Make sure every one gets their water or fruit.
At the end of the game, make sure
the entire team participates in the "sportsmanship line."
Winners thank the other team for a "good game" and if you
lost, congratulate the other team and compliment them on their good play.
U10 and older teams: If you lost
the game, try to play down the negatives and emphasize the positive aspects.
After the game try and emphasize
the positive aspects of the game. We want our players to love the
game and always be excited about coming to play.
As a coach, try to read what is
happening on the field during the game so that you have specific
goals for your next practice. This applies whether you've won or lost.
Under no circumstances should a
coach, player, or parent engage in verbal combat. If the other team
is behaving in a manner that is provocative or unsportsmanlike, do
not retaliate. At the end of the game, record the situation and
report it to the Quest office so that it may be handled according to
protocol. Keep your cool and don't aggravate the situation.
Procedures are in place to deal with these situations.
After each game try to telephone 2
or 3 players who you feel exhibited some improvement or quality play.
Congratulate them on a job well done or on their good sportsmanship
during the game. If you show your interest in them, they will play
harder for you and the team.
Coaches (particularly at the U5/U6
age groups) should try hard to work together to help all players on
the field have an enjoyable, safe, and positive learning experience.
A conversation with the other coach prior to the game is always a
good idea.
End of the Season
After the season your team parent
should arrange a team party or picnic. It is important to do
something to signal the end of the season. Don't just allow your team
to drift off after the final game. Celebrate their efforts regardless
of the score or final standings. This is your opportunity to bring
each of the kids up and reward them for their playing season. Mention
something positive about each player. This is also an excellent time
to recognize each volunteer and how much each has contributed to the
team's success.
Recreational Uniform Policy
The United Quest Recreational
uniform will be as decided by the Board of Directors or their
designee. The Quest logo will be on the uniform. A uniform package is
available at a discounted price from the United Quest Office. The
uniform will be available in cotton tee shirts for Smidget and U6
players. All Recreational Teams must be in the official uniform
whether at home or away.
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